Fracturing of a wet well utilizing an air/fuel mixture

Abstract

A method of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations having a significant amount of water present (a wet well) for the extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom includes flowing an explosive hydrophobic emulsion mixture to protect the air and fuel mixture subsequently flowed into a well hole. The well hole may then be sealed with a packer plug creating a compression chamber with the air and fuel mixture. A liquid, such as water, may be pumped into the well hole to create pressure in the compression chamber. The build-up of pressure eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation. The water may then rush into the compression chamber which thermally shocks the area causing additional fractures. The water may vaporize to steam and thoroughly disinfect the well hole eliminating the need for added biocides.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of fracturing comprising:
 drilling a well hole into a subterranean well location; 
 pumping an emulsion mixture into the well hole; 
 flowing a combustible mixture of an oxidizer and a fuel into the well hole; 
 compressing the combustible mixture with a mass of a mixture delivered to the well hole; 
 causing the combustible mixture to auto-ignite under a compressive force of the mass, thereby causing the emulsion mixture to detonate due to the auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture, wherein at least a portion of the subterranean well location is fractured with the explosion from the detonation of the emulsion mixture; and 
 collecting a plurality of hydrocarbons emitted from the fractured subterranean well location. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mass of mixture is an aqueous mixture that is flowed into the well hole. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising flowing a shocking mixture into the hole following the auto-ignition and detonation, providing additional fracturing by creating a steam and a thermal shock to the subterranean location. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsion mixture contains ammonium nitrate, oil, and a polymeric surfactant. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the oil is at least one of fuel oil and mineral oil. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the emulsion mixture is sensitized within a range of 3%-10%. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the emulsion mixture is sensitized within a range of 5%-6%. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel is one of a group consisting of diesel fuel, a carbohydrate, wheat flour, corn flour, rice flour, barley flour, organic starches, powdered plastics, powdered coal, and powdered fecal matter. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of piezo crystals is added to the fuel to provide detonation of the combustible mixture under pressure. 
     
     
       10. A system for fracturing a subterranean well location with a well hole comprising:
 A first packer plug, inserted into the well hole; 
 a mass of an emulsion mixture, positioned atop the first packer plug, to interact with any water present in the well hole; 
 a mass of a combustible mixture of an oxidizer and a fuel, positioned atop the first packer plug and the mass of the emulsion mixture; 
 a second packer plug, inserted into the well enclosing the mass of the emulsion mixture and the mass of the combustible mixture of oxidizer and fuel; 
 a mass of aqueous mixture; 
 wherein the mass of aqueous mixture compresses the mass of combustible mixture to auto-detonate the mass of combustible mixture; and 
 wherein the mass of the emulsion mixture is detonated by a deflagration of the mass of the combustible mixture. 
 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the emulsion mixture is one of a group including ammonium nitrate and at least one of a fuel oil, mineral oil, and a polymeric surfactant. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the fuel is one of a group consisting of diesel fuel, a carbohydrate, wheat flour, corn flour, rice flour, barley flour, organic starches, powdered plastics, powdered coal, and powdered fecal matter. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the fuel is diesel fuel and the diesel fuel is aerosolized and the oxidizer is at least one of aluminum nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and ambient air at a surface of the well hole. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the oxidizer is at least one of aluminum nitrate, ammonium nitrate, or ambient air at a surface of the well hole. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of piezo crystals is added to the fuel to provide detonation under pressure. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first packer plug includes a pressure reducing orifice. 
     
     
       17. A system to collect hydrocarbons from a subterranean environment comprising:
 a well hole extending a predetermined depth sufficient to reach a hydrocarbon deposit; 
 a mixture pump that flows an emulsion mixture into the well hole to interact with any water present in the well hole; 
 a compressor flowing an air and fuel mixture into the well hole; 
 a fracking pump that flows an aqueous mixture into the well hole to apply pressure to the air and fuel mixture to auto-detonate the air and fuel mixture; 
 wherein the emulsion mixture is detonated by the auto-detonation of the air and fuel mixture; and 
 wherein the subterranean environment is fractured with the energy of the auto-detonation of the air and fuel mixture and the detonation of the emulsion mixture to allow recovery of a plurality of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon deposit from the well hole. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a first packer plug positioned at a distal end of the well hole and a second packer plug driven in to the well hole to compress the emulsion mixture and air and fuel mixture, wherein the weight of the aqueous mixture applies pressure to the second packer plug. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the aqueous mixture is a mixture of liquid water and a gel made from at least one of guar and cross-linked polymers, and wherein the fuel is one of a group including diesel fuel, a carbohydrate, wheat flour, corn flour, rice flour, barley flour, organic starches, powdered plastics, powdered coal, and powdered fecal matter, and a plurality of piezo crystals. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the air and fuel mixture includes an oxidizer, and the oxidizer is at least one of aluminum nitrate, ammonium nitrate, or ambient air at a surface of the well hole, and wherein a plurality of piezo crystals is added to the fuel to provide detonation of the air and fuel mixture under pressure.